The Great Pepperoni Roll Debate

West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III made returning to work a lot more palatable for Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller by surprising his home-state colleague with a case of pepperoni rolls.

The handheld snack, which was originally developed with coal miners in mind, features zesty pepperoni baked into a slightly sweet roll.

A Manchin aide confirmed that Team Rockefeller was bequeathed baked goods from Chico Bakery in Morgantown, W.Va. — noting that this is neither the first nor last time other offices will benefit from a collegial food drop.

“We can’t reveal too many secrets, but there are more than a few offices that hope to be on the receiving end of the next pepperoni roll delivery,” the Manchin aide assured HOH.

An aide to Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Capito makes her own pepperoni rolls and is not shy about spreading the spiced meat-spiked love. “She had a bet about the [2002 Continental] Tire Bowl with [then] Sen. George Allen and lost, so she delivered pepperoni rolls from northern West Virginia,” the Capito staffer said.

Our interest officially piqued, HOH reached out to a former roommate, who now resides in the Mountain State, for guidance on where to find the best pepperoni rolls around. His source: Tomaro’s Bakery in Clarksburg, W.Va.

“I have eaten literally dozens of different brands, but no one comes close to these little pieces of heaven,” our buddy pledged.